Pumps



June 4, 1957 D. J. MUNROE 2,794,398

PUMPS Filed April 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INV EN TOR. I Davzd J Mun/ 0c 7 BY A 6; 4/ 7 June 4, 1957 D. J. MUNROE 2,794,398

PUMPS Filed April 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Dd l'd JMa J2me BY wm M M,

fliiorzzeyz United States Patent PUMPS David J. Munroe, Racine, Wis, assignor to Webster Electric Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application April 2, 1952, Serial No. 280,058

8 Claims. (Cl. 1035) The present invention relates to pumps and more particularly to a new and improved pump adapted for pumping fluids such as fuel oil.

Such pumps are utilized for many different purposes and in many different arrangements by manufacturers of associated equipment requiring the pump to be rotated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pump adapted for rotation in either of two directions which is simple in construction, sturdy, compact, and has a minimum number of parts so as to be adapted to be manufactured at a low cost.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pump including a fuel strainer and pressure regulator valve wherein the pump constitutes a hub portion of the combined fuel pump and pressure regulator assembly.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the character aforesaid in which a plurality of pumping elements are positioned within a mounting plate utilized to secure the pump to associated equipment.

Another object involves the provision of a fuel pump assembly in which a cavity or chamber which is adapted to receive an oil seal is utilized as an interstage fuel reservoir for the pumping assembly.

In accordance with these and many other objects, one embodiment of the invention comprises a vertically upstanding body member including a strainer assembly in fluid communication with a pump inlet means. The fuel provided at the inlet passes through the strainer into a pumping chamber including a plurality of gear pump elements which are movably positioned in a hub portion projecting outwardly from the body. The output from the pump is returned to the body and passes through a pressure regulator valve positioned therein. The pressure regulator valve controls the flow of the fluid such as fuel oil to the nozzle of a burner element situated in an external fuel consuming device such as a furnace and returns excess fuel to the external source of supply through a bypass. The movable means containing the pumping elements is adapted to be rotated about an actuating shaft therefor through an arc of 180 so that the pump elements may be rotated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. A rotary oil seal is positioned within a cavity in the hub spaced longitudinally along the shaft from the position at which the shaft engages to the pumping elements.

Another embodiment of the invention includes a multiple stage pump positioned within a hub which is similarly disposed adjacent the body portion including the strainer and pressure regulator valve assemblies. In this modification, the fluid medium provided by the strainer assembly passes through one stage and into the cavity containing the rotary oil seal and then passes therefrom through a second pumping stage. The output of the second pumping stage is returned to the pressure regulator valve assembly. The chamber in which the rotary oil seal is positioned is utilized in this embodiment as an interstage fluid reservoir.

ice

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of illustrative embodiments of the invention, during the course of which reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a fuel pump-regulator valve-strainer assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view partially broken away of the unit disclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 33 in Fig. 1 but omitting the pressure regulator;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 in Fig. 1 but omitting the strainer;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional View taken centrally of a two-stage fuel pump unit comprising a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Fig. 5; r v

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 99 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 1010 in either Fig. 4 or Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is an end elevational view of the two-stage modification of the fuel pump assembly; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the details of a bypass valve arrangement shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings and first to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, it may be noted that the present invention is illustrated as embodied in a combined fuel pumppressure regulator valve-strainer assembly indicated as a whole by reference character 13. The assembly includes a pump 12, a pressure regulator valve 14, and a strainer 16, see particularly Figs. 3 and 4.

In accordance with the present invention it may be noted that the pump 12 constitutes in eflfect a hub-like portion of the entire assembly 13 whereby it is compact and may be constructed simply and economically. The pump 12 comprises a generally cylindrical body portion 20 and a combined mounting and gear plate 22 that is generally diamond shaped, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, and provided with openings 23 for the reception of securing means by which the assembly may be secured to associated apparatus. The gear plate 22 is provided with central and offset openings 24 and 26 (Fig. 2) for the reception of a pair of intermeshing gear pump elements 28 and 30 respectively. Pump element 28 is mounted at the inner end of a pump shaft 32 projecting centrally through the body 20 while the gear element 30 is mounted rotatably on a hollow stud shaft 33 fixedly secured to the body 20. The body 20 and plate 22 are secured to each other by a pair of diametrically oppositely located sleeves 34 (Figs. 2 and 4) and the two are detachably secured to the pressure valve-strainer assembly 14, 16 by a plurality of 'bolts 35, two of which pass through the sleeves 34.

A rotary oil seal indicated generally as 36 is provided to prevent any leakage of oil out of the pump 12 along the shaft 32. The rotary seal 36 is positioned within a bore 37 formed in the body portion 2% and includes a thrust bearing element 38 which is positioned on the shaft 32 in engagement with the body portion 20. An annular member 39 is positioned on the shaft 32 and interposed between the bearing member 38 and a shouldered sleeve 40. A flexible diaphragm 41 is seated on the sleeve 40 and extends outwardly therefrom to be engaged at its outer end between two gasket members 42 and 43. The annular gasket members 42 and 43 are held in intimate contact with the outer edge of the diaphragm 41 by an annular flanged metallic ring 44 which is seated .in a

counterbore 45 formed in the body 20. The'inner edge of the diaphragm 41 is held in engagement. with the shouldered portion of the sleeve 40by an annular ring 46 which is mounted on the sleeve 40 andresilieritly urged into engagement with the-diaphragm'41 by a coil'spring' 47 'of substantially conical configuration. The inner end of the spring'47 engages the annular member 46 and the outer end of .the spring 47 is received within'a struck out portion of an'end cap 48 which is secured to the body member 20. The end cap 48 is provided with a centrally located aperture through which the shaft 32extendsand is detachably secured to'the body portion 20 'by the plurality of machine bolts 35 (Fig, 2). 1

Any fluid which reaches the bore37by movement along. the outer periphery of the shaft 32 accumulates within the bore 37 until such time asfthe level of the fluid is raised to the level of a passagewayj50' (Fig 1);

which extends through the bodyme'mber' 20 and is in 1 communication with a p-assageway 51 (Fig. 2) in. the gear plate 22. The passageway 51 is in fluid communication with a passageway 52 (Fig. 1).

An internally threaded counterbore 54 at the lower extremity of the passageway'53 is adapted to receive an externally threaded conveying means adapted to return the fluid in passageway 53 to an external storage means (not shown). 7 V

The pump 12 is provided with a filtered supply of fluid such as fuel oil by the strainer 16. The strainer 16 is positioned with a main body portion 60 (Fig. 3) having an inlet counterbore 62 formed therein which is adapted The'passagewa'yi 52' opens into a passageway 53 comprising the bypass outlet.

to receive an externally threaded fuel pipe (not shown).

The fueloil provided by the inlet bore 62 flows through a passageway 64 into a chamber indicated generally as,

66., The chamber 66 is formed by a pair of screen or mesh filter elements 68 and 70 which are positioned within an annular chamber 72 formed in the body portion 60.

The screen members 68, 70 are positioned in the chamber 72 in a spaced apart relationship to form the chamber 66 by a dependingflange portion 74 formed in a closure member 76; The interposition of the two screen members 68 and 70 also provides two annular, spaced passageways 78 and 80 through which the filtered oil passing through V the members 68 and 70 flows.

A plurality of apertures or openings 82 (Figs, 3 -and'4) are. formed in the depending flange 74 to place the passageways 78 and. 80in fiuidcommunication so'that the filtered fuel oil supply in the passageway 80 is free to flow through passageway 78 to a pump inlet passageway 84 (Fig. 4) formed in the body portion 60. The passageway 84 (Figs; 4 and 10) mayopen out of the body in alignment with a recess 89 formed in the inner face of the gear plate 22.. However, as disclosed in the drawings, the passageway 84 opens into a recess 86 formed in the body 60. The recess 86 makes it possible to utilize the same body 60 with either the single stage pump 12 or a multiple stage pump to be described hereinafter.

The recess 86 is in fluid communication with the recess 89'(Figs. 2 and 4) which terminates in the ofisetopenings 24 and 26 containing the gear pump elements. 28 and 30 so that upon rotation of these elements the fluid medium such as fuel oil is drawn through the strainer 16 passageway 84, recesses 86 and 89 to the pump 12.

The output from the pump 12 is conveyed to the pres- '70 face of the gear plate Hand a passageway 92 (Figs.

sure regulator 14 through a recess 91 formed in the inner 4 and 10) which is formed in the body portion 60. The

passageway 92 is in fluid communication with a chamber 94 (Figs. 3 and 4) formed-in the main body portion 60 in'g by-pass passageway 53 formed in the body portion 60 V in which the pressure regulator valve 14 is mounted.

opened to by-pass the excess oil. in Figs. 4 and 12 when oil is being supplied to the nozzle sageway 96 and a counterbore 97 which comprises an outlet for the pump-strainer-regulator valve assembly 13 leading as to a guage (not shown).

The vertically arranged pressure regulator valve 14 disclosed in Figs. 4 and 12 controls the flow of fuel oil to an external burner or other device and relieves excess oil pressure by by-passing fuel oil to the passageway 53 when the oil pressure exceeds a predetermined value.

The regulator 14 includes a bushing 98 in which a countera bore 99 comprising the outlet to the nozzle of a burner (not shown) is formed. Thebushing 98 threadedly receives another bushing 100 having a shoulderthereonwadapted to engage a projecting portion 101 which is formed on a cylindrical double ended needle valve mem her 103. The lower end of the member103-is tapered as.

indicated at 104 to provide a needle valve in cooperation with a passageway 105 formed .in a shouldered tubular member 107, thereby to control the flow of oil to the nozzle.

A spring'member109 is interposed between the shoulder 101 and the upper end of the tubular member 107 to resiliently urge the member 103 into engagement with a the shoulder on the bushing 100. The position of the bushing 100 with respect to the bushing 98 accordingly determines the clearance between the tapered portion 104 and the opening of the passageway 105 wherebyfthe amount of flow of fuel to the burner nozzle isdetermined.

The fuel flows into the passageway 105 through apertures 108 formed in the bushing 100 and openings 110' formed in a shouldered cylindrical frame 112 of a diat phragm assembly indicated generally as 111. The diaphragm assembly 111 includes a pair of resilient dia-' phragms 113 which are rigidlysecured at their outer edges by a pair of gaskets 115 secured to the frame 112.

The inner edges of the annular diaphragms' 113 are secured within another cylindrical gasket 117, the upper end of which is shouldered to receive a spring member 118. A tubular insert 119'is received within the gasket 117 and engages an upper tapered portion 104A of the needle valve member 103 controlling the by-pass of oil; The pressure at which the needle valves open to supply oil to the nozzleand to by-pass oil is controlled by the coil spring 118, the upper end of which is engaged by' a flanged cylinder 121 which is'rotatably received upon an adjusting screw 122 threadedly engaged within the body 60. A cap screw 123 mounted in the cover plate 76 is removable to allow manual adjustment of the screw 122 to vary the pressure applied to the assembly 111 by the spring 118. Whenthe fuel supply attains a first predetermined pressure, the resilient'diaphragm assembly 111 is moved vertically upward to 'open the needle valve 104, to supply oil to the nozzle and when the pres sure exceeds another value the needle valve 104A is The valve is shown and excess is being by-passed.

The by-passed oil flows from chamber 94 through passageway (Figs. 1 and 3) to the vertically extendthence through an external conducting means (not shown) which is threadedly engaged within 'the internally threaded'counterbore 54. V

The, pump 12 is "conditioned for rotation in adirection opposite to that previously described'by rotating the plate 22 and hub body 20 about the shaft through an arc of In this position, the recess 91 (Fig.2) ismoved.

The member 107 is secu'redin position in the bushing 98 by the engagementof the shouldered portion thereof with the lower end of the threaded bushing 100i into registration with the recess 86 formed in the .body portion 66 to become a. pump inlet and the recess 89 is moved into communication with the passageway 92 and becomes the outlet. The shaft 32 is now rotated in a clockwise direction so that the rotation of the gear pump elements 26 and 28 once again moves the fluid from the passageway 84 to the passageway 92. In this rotated position, the passageways 50 and 51 are displaced from alignment with the passageway 52 so that it is impossible for the oil accumulated within the bore 37 to be displaced into the by-pass line connected to the counterbore 54. However, this rotation of the gear mounting plate 22 moves a passageway 55 formed in the body portion 20 which is in alignment with the hollow stud 33 supporting the gear member 30 into registration with the passageway 52 so that fuel oil accumulated within the bore 37 may be conducted through passageway 55, hollow stud 33, and passageways 52 and 53 to the outlet counterbore 54 of the by-pass line.

The principles of the present invention may be embodied in a multistage pump as illustrated in Figs. 5 to 11, inclusive. The pump as a whole is indicated by the numeral 124 and includes a mounting plate 126 (Figs. 5 and 6) similar to the plate 22 in the single stage pump 12. The multistage pump 124 is further characterized by an interstage reservoir 125 which is provided by the recess in which the oil seal 36 is disposed. This reservoir receives the fluid output from the first stage of the pump 124 and provides an ample source of fluid for the second stage without increasing the size of the hub assembly of this pump.

To provide a first pumping stage the plate 126 which includes a pair of mounting apertures 127 is provided with a pair of contiguous cylindrical recesses 128 and 130 formed therein in which a pair of gear pump elements 132 and 134 are positioned. The element 134 is secured to an actuating shaft 135 while the pump element 132 is mounted on a hollow stud shaft 133 forming a by-pass for excess oil from reservoir 125. A recess 136 which is in fluid communication with the openings 128 and 130 is formed in the face of the plate 126 so as to be in fluid communication with the kidney-shaped input recess 86 formed in the body 60. Since the multistage pump 124 is utilized with the same pressure valve 14 and strainer assembly 16 as that described above in conjunction with the single stage pump, the fluid input from the strainer assembly 16 passes through the passageways 64, 84 and recesses 86, 136, to the pumping elements 132 and 134.

The output of fuel from these pumping elements is conveyed to the reservoir 125 through a recess 138 and a passageway 139 to a passageway 140 formed in a bearing plate 142. This bearing plate is also provided with a centrally disposed aperture through which the drive shaft 135 passes and With spaced apertures 143 and 143A for the stud shaft 133, the shaft passing through aperture 143 for the direction of rotation being described. The fluid from the passageway 140 passes through a passageway 144 formed in a second gear plate 146 and therethrough to a passageway 148 formed in a hub plate 150. The fiuid passes through the passageway 148 into reservoir 125 formed previously by a counterbore 152 in the plate and in which the rotary seal indicated generally as 36 is positioned.

The interstage reservoir 125 receives the output from the first pumping stage including the elements 132 and 134. it e fuel supply which builds up within the chamber 152 is in part conducted to a second pumping stage including a pair of gear pump elements 154 and 156 by means of a passageway 158 formed in the hub plate 150, and a passageway 168 formed in the plate 146. The passageway 168 is in communication with a recess 162 which is formed in the inner face of the plate 146 and is in communication with a pair of contiguous apertures 164 and 166 in which the gear pump elements 154 and 156 are mounted. The gear element 156 is mounted on the shaft 135 to which the gear element 134 is also mounted,

whereas the gear pump element 154 is rotatably mounted on the stud shaft 133 so as to be driven by rotation o the shaft 135 and gear pump element 156.

The fluid displaced by the elements 154 and 156 is conveyed to the valve 14 by passing through a recess 170 formed in the inner face of the plate 146 to a passageway 172 formed in the bearing plate 142 and therethrough to a passageway 174 formed in the gear plate 126. The passageway 174 is in communication with the passageway 92 formed in the body 60 so that the fuel supply output from the pumping assembly 124 passes through the body 60 under the control of the pressure regulator valve 14 in the manner described above in conjunction with the single stage pump. I

The interstage reservoir 125 provided by the counterbore 152 is also in communication with the by-pass passageway 53 through the hollow stud shaft 133 which passes through aperture 176 in the hub plate 150, the gear plate 146, the bearing plate 142, the gear plate 126 and the passageway 52. This by-pass line provides a means'for returning an excess portion of the fuel supply to the external supply tank from the interstage reservoir 125.

In order to operate the pump 124 with the shaft 135 rotating in a counterclockwise direction, the two gear plates 126 and 146 are rotated about the shaft 135 through an arc of 180 from the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8. In this position, the input line to the first pumping stage including the gear pump elements 132 and 134 comprises the kidney-shaped recess 86 and the recess 138. The output flow produced by the gear pump elements 132 and 134 passes to the reservoir 125 through the recess 136 and passageway 180, a passageway 182 passing through the bearing plate 142, a passageway 184 formed in the gear plate 146, and a passageway 186 in the hub plate 150. The fluid in the interstage reservoir 125 flows to the second pumping stage through the passageway 158, a passageway 188 in the plate 146, and the recess 170.

The output from this second pumping stage passes to the valve 14 through the recess 162 and the passageways 172, and 189, the latter *being formed in plate 126 in alignment with the output passageway 92. The fuel supply provided by this arrangement of the pumping assembly 124 also flows to the external nozzle of'the burner or the outlet under the control of the pressure regulator valve 14 in the manner described above in conjunction with the single stage pump 12.

Since the stud shaft 133 passes through the apertures 143A and 176A with the gear plates 126 and 146 rotated 180 from the positions shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the by-pass connection between the by-pass passageway 53 and the interstage reservoir 125 includes the passageway 52, a passageway 179 formed in plate 126, the passageway 143 in plate 142, a passageway 177 formed in the plate 146, and the passageway 176 in the hub plate 150. This path of fluid communication provides an interconnection between the interstage reservoir 125 and the =by-pass outlet passageway 53 even though the two gear mounting plates 126 and 146 are rotated 180 from the shaft 135 from the position originally described.

The plates 150, 146, 1-42, and 126 are joined together by a pair of sleeves 200 through which extend a pair of bolts 202 which secures the pump assembly 124 to the body 60.

With the foregoing detailed description in mind, it is believed that the operation of the single stage pump disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, will now be understood. The assembly is supplied with fuel oil through the inlet counterbore 62 which is connected by an external fluid conveying means to an external source of fuel oil. The by-pass counterbore 54 is also connected by fluid conveying means to the external source of fuel" fiuidrconveying, means with the. nozzle of. a burner.

The apparatusis placed in operation by energizingaa motor (notv shown) which is connected to the shaftfBZ to rotate the shaft Bland consequently the gear pump elements 2'8 and 30. The rotationof gea'r p'umpf element 28 as viewed in'iFig, 2-of the drawing, is in, acounterclockwise direction so that the fuel oiliisdrawn, upwardly through the passageway 64 (Fig. 3.)v into the cavity, 66 and: thence through the filter members 685 to. 70 to the annular passageways. 78 and 80. v The strained fuel oil in passageway 80 flows through the apertures 82 into the passageway 84. Fuel oil then-flowsto the pump inlet. through" passageway 84 and recesses '86 and "89; Theogil is dischargedto the pressure regulator-through the recess 91 and the passageway 92. Oil supplied to the regulator flows either, or both to' the burner nozzle through passageways 99*and105','and theby-pass 53; through the upper needle. valve and passageway 120. V

The mannerofoperation of thefmultiple stage fuel pump 124 disclosed in Figs. 5 to 11, inclusive, of the drawings is. identical to thatdescribed in the preceding paragraphwith the exceptionof the flow of the fuel oil 7 through the pump 124. The fuel oil conveyed to the recess 86 flows to the pump outlet passageway 92 as follows; through recesses K136 and 1-38; passageways 139, 140,144, and 148; reservoir 125 passageways 158 and 160; recesses'162 and 170; passageways 172 and 174. If the pump 124 is to be operated'with the gear pump elements rotating in a direction opposite to that just described, i. e. counterclockwise, the fuel oil in the recess 86 is conveyed to the pump outlet passageway 92 as follows: through recesses 138 and'136; passageways 180, 182, 184 and 186; reservoir 125; passageways 158 and 188; recesses 170 and 162; and passageways 172 and.'189.'

'Both of the illustrated embodiments of the pump described. above can be readily adapted for rotation in either of two directions. Theyare simple in construction, sturdy, compact, employ a minimum of parts. In large measure, the compactness is afforded by construct ing the .pump. as,a-hub portion of the combined fuel pump'and pressure regulator assembly. Thus, a small amountof material is required and the construction facilitates mounting of'the' pump by the' manufacturer of the oil burner.

It is to be 'understood'that the above-described embodiments of the invention are merely illustrative of the principles thereof and that those skilled in the art may devise numerous other devices and modifications which will embody these principles and fall within the spirit ands'cope thereof;

Having'thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire 'to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: i

l. A fuel pump comprising a housing having fluid inlet and'outlet means, a first pumping means movably mounted on the housing in registration with the outlet means, a second pumpingmeans movably mounted on the housing in fluid communication withthe inlet means, first fluid'conveying means mounted on the housing and interposed between the first and sec-0nd pumping means to provide portions of outlet means for. said first and second pumping means, second fluid conveying means mounted on said housing-for providing a continuation of said outlet means for said first pumping means and an inlet means for said second pumping means, and means defining an ,enclosurespaced from said second pumping means in fluid communication with said second fluid conveying means to provide a fluid reservoir between said first. and second pumping means.

2. Afuel pump. comprising a frame having fluid inlet tanduoutletmeans, a shaft rotatable about a predetermined axis, a first pumping means adjustable about said. axis and actuated by said shaft, said first means ineluding a. pluralityof. fluidrconveying means, and. a sec-..,

0nd pumping means adjustable, aboutsaidaxispand actuatedby said, shaft, said, second means having a plurality. f u n eyingrmc ns, s id/firs nd se ond p mp n I means: being mova le to. diff re t ngular po i o s about. the axis in which the plurality of conveying means form a single continuous ,fluidconveying means from the out let means-through thefirst and second pumping means to the inlet means,

v3. A fuel pump comprising a housing having fluid inlet and outlet means, a hub having inlet and outlet means mounted on thehousing with the hub inlet and outlet meansin registration with the housing outlet and inlet means, a shaft rotatably mounted on the hub, a first-pumping means including fluid conveying means positioned within the hub and engaged by the shaft for actuation thereby, a second pumping means including fluid conveying means positioned within the hub and engaged by the shaft for actuation thereby, means pos i-. tioned adjacent the second pumping means forming a chamber in fluid communication with the first and second pumping means, and fluid conveying means interposed between the first and second pumping means and forming part of the hub, said first and second pumping means being adjustable to a plurality of positions with the fluid conveying'means forming a single continuous. conveying means from the hub inlet means to the hub outlet means, said continuous conveying means including the chamber and both of the pumping means.

4. In combination with a fluid pump having a housing and a pair of axially spaced gear type pumpingmeans mounted on a. shaft forrotation thereby, a rotary oil seal surrounding said shaft, said pump housing having a cavity, said rotary oil seal cooperating with said cavity to define an oil seal chamber, andfluid conveying means interconnecting said oil seal chamber with the inlet of one and the outlet of the other pumping means whereby the oil seal chamber provides afluid reservoir'between the two pumping means.

5. A fluid pump comprising a housing having a cavity,

a plurality of spaced pumping units mounted within said housing, a shaft for actuating said pumping units, oil sealing means mounted on said shaft'and cooperating with the cavity in said housing to define an oil seal chamher, and fluid conveying means interconnecting said chamber with the inlet of one of said pumping means and the outlet of another of said pumping means.

6. A fluid pump comprising a supportingmember, a first pumping means mounted on said member, a second pumping means positioned adjacent the first pumping means and mounted on the member, a recessed element mounted on said member adjacent the second pumping means, a shaft extending through said element and said pumping means for actuating said pumping means, and sealing means in engagement with said shaft and said recessed element to define a chamber, said chamber being in fluid communication with the inlet of one of said pumping means and the outlet of the other of said pumping means to provide a fluid reservoir therebetween.

7. A fuel pump adapted to be secured to a supporting frame comprising a hub member of a predetermined diameter secured to said frame, a plurality of separate pumps supported only by said hub, a shaft for actuating said pumps extending through said hub member outwardly away from said frame, said hub member including structure defining a recess immediately adjacent said shaft having a diameter less than said predetermined diameter, an oil sealing member seated on said shaft and cooperating with said hub member adjacent said recess to define a reservoir, and fluid conveying passageways formed in said hub member placing the inlet of one of said pumps and the outlet of another of said pumps in fluid communication with said reservoir.

8. A fuel pump comprising a frame having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a shaft rotatable about a pre- 9 determined axis, first and second supporting structures each individually supporting a first and a second pump both actuated by said shaft, first and second plates each having a plurality of fiuid passageways, said first and second supporting structure and said first and second plates being disposed in abutting relationship with each other to provide a first continuous fluid conveying passageway including a group of the fluid passageways in said first and second plates and the first and second pumps and to provide a second continuous fluid conveying passageway including a group of the fluid passageways in said first and second plates and said first and second pumps, and means for securing said first and second plates and said first and second supporting structures in said abutting relationship to said frame in different anguiarly spaced positions relative to said axis with said first continuous fluid conveying passageway interconnecting said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet in 10 one of said afigularly spaced positions and with said sec-- ond continuous fluid conveying passageway interconnecting said fluid inlet and said fiuid outlet in another of said angularly spaced positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,032,886 Murphy et al. Mar. 3, 1936 2,119,740 Fellows et a1. June 7, 1938 2,149,864 Osborne Mar. 7, 1939 2,184,133 Wahlmark Dec. 19, 1939 2,233,709 Osborne Mar. 4, 1941 2,460,649 Muller Feb. 1, 1949 2,655,108 Osborne Oct. 13, 195 3 FOREIGN PATENTS 464,877 Great Britain 1937 516,790 Great Britain 1940 

